INST 2007 - The “Other” in Society

Hours:4Students will learn about the myriad connections that undergird society by studying those who lack such connections. This course will introduce students to the study of those individuals, groups, and behaviors that fall outside the boundaries of society. We will explore how society decides who is “in” and who is “out,” and how other factors such as race, gender, and class, among others, influence these patterns. Included will be discussion of the process of defining behaviors as “acceptable” or “unacceptable,” theories about the genesis of such behaviors and definitions, and exploration of the identities and subcultures where those without connections to the broader society find and forge their own connections and communities.